Taylor Swift once dubbed her “Trump in a wig,” but Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) isn’t joining in on criticism of the music superstar, with her lauding the singer as “very talented.”
Blackburn was asked about the media firestorm centered on Swift during a Wednesday interview on Newsmax. But while in recent days many conservative critics have floated wild conspiracy theories about the 34-year-old entertainer amid chatter of a potential endorsement from her for President Biden in the 2024 White House race, Blackburn had nothing but praise.
Calling the “Cruel Summer” songstress “popular,” Blackburn said, “She has built quite an empire. I am so thrilled that she has chosen to base that in Nashville.”
“She is considered to be an influencer I think when it comes to elections. People look at the issues that are important to them, and they make their decisions,” Blackburn said.
“Right now we know … the Biden border policy, that is something at the top of the list for so many people, certainly in Tennessee. The border is issue number one,” the lawmaker said.
In 2018, Swift broke her nearly careerlong silence on politics to support former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) in his Senate bid against Blackburn.
“As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn,” Swift wrote on Instagram at the time.
“Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” Swift said of Blackburn, who went on to win the Senate seat in her bid against Bredesen.
In her 2020 Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” Swift ripped Blackburn, calling her “Trump in a wig.”
Asked about the 45th president-related jab on Wednesday and if it bothered her, Blackburn borrowed a title from one of Swift’s songs.
“I just shake it off,” Blackburn replied with a laugh.
